ECNL Alums Dominate the 2018 NWSL Draft

January 19, 2018

RICHMOND, VA (January 19, 2018) – The Elite Clubs National League has had an incredible impact on all levels of women’s soccer since its founding in 2009. Over 90% of the ECNL’s Amazing Young Women go on to play collegiate soccer every year and make an impact at the next level as cataloged in the ECNL’s College Impact series.

The ECNL is now in the ninth year of existence, therefore players who spent the majority of their youth careers in the ECNL are now graduating college and moving on to play professionally. The ECNL’s dominant impact on college soccer is now transitioning to have a significant impact on professional soccer.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the longest-running professional women’s soccer platform in the country and is entering its sixth season. Each year, the NWSL provides an opportunity for more and more female players to continue their playing careers beyond the collegiate game.

ECNL Alums’ names were called over and over again at the 2018 NWSL Draft that took place earlier today at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 26 of the 40 players drafted were ECNL Alums, accounting for 65% of the total 2018 draft class.

The first round featured seven ECNL Alums, including January S’Hero of the Month, Andi Sullivan, selected as the 1st overall pick and former Amazing Young Woman Spotlight of the Week, Savannah McCaskill, as the 2nd overall pick. Both the second and fourth rounds each saw seven ECNL Alums called to the stage, while five ECNL Alums were chosen in the third round.

Congratulations to all of the ECNL Alums selected in the 2018 NWSL Draft:

The ECNL is the best platform for female soccer players in the United States, and the vision and goal of the best clubs, teams, and players in the country. Become an ECNL athlete and start your path to college, and a chance to pursue a professional soccer career.

###

About Elite Clubs National League: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.